Harford County Council Bill 26 008 Countywide Data Center Ban Vote

1. Clip 1 · 0:24 Resident public comment Resident Public Comment transcribed from the official recording

   Harford County passes Maryland's first countywide ban on data center development following neighborhood opposition.

   "A SITE THAT WAS BEING CONSIDERED FOR DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT. SHE’S PLEASED A BILL PASSED BY HARFORD COUNTY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY NIGHT WILL KEEP DATA CENTERS OUT OF THE COUNTY. AS YOU CAN SEE, ALL OF US HAVE SIGNS OUT FRONT. WE DON’T WANT TO LOSE OUR HOMES. WE’VE BEEN HERE. I’VE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HE’S BEEN HERE ALL HIS LIFE. MY NEIGHBOR. SO, YOU KNOW THIS IS HOME TO US AND WE WANT TO STAY. IT’S THEIR PROPERTY. I RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE. I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE FREE TO SELL WHO THEY WANT. OTHER NEIGHBORS FEEL IT’S INEVITABLE."

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2. Clip 2 · 0:57 Resident public comment Resident Public Comment transcribed from the official recording

   Residents and community speakers address Harford County Council regarding local water, power grid, noise, and zoning impacts.

   "I GET IT, BUT DATA CENTERS ARE GOING TO BE COMING ALL ACROSS AMERICA. HARFORD COUNTY EXECUTIVE BOB CASSILLY SAYS HE WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THE GOLF COURSE WAS BEING CONSIDERED FOR DEVELOPMENT. THE COUNCIL HAD BEEN MEETING, UNBEKNOWNST TO US, IN SECRET, WITH THE DATA CENTER DEVELOPER FOR ALMOST A YEAR. AND THEN THEY BROUGHT IN ADVOCATES FOR DATA CENTERS AND THE COUNCIL. CASSILLY FAST TRACKED THE VOTE ON THE BILL TO BAN DEVELOPMENT, CONCERNED BY THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS. MODERATE SIZED DATA CENTER CONSUMES ELECTRICITY."

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3. Clip 3 · 1:28 Harford County Council Member Elected Official Opposed transcribed from the official recording

   Zoning Moratorium Power & Grid

   Harford County Council members deliberate on municipal siting standards, utility capacity, and the recorded ordinance action.

   "SO YOU’D BE DOUBLING OUR RESIDENTIAL DEMAND. MARYLAND TECH COUNCIL SUGGESTS THE DECISION COULD PUT THE COUNTY IN LEGAL JEOPARDY, SAYING IN PART, QUOTE, BILL 2611 IS VAGUE, LEGALLY DUBIOUS AND FORECLOSES A GENERATIONAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY RATHER THAN REGULATING INDUSTRY ON REASONABLE TERMS SET BY THE COUNTY. FURTHER, THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS CONSISTENTLY IGNORED FACTS, DEMONSTRATING THAT MANY CONCERNS ABOUT DATA CENTERS ARE MISUNDERSTOOD OR VASTLY OVERSTATED. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS REALLY THE REST OF MARYLAND TO FOLLOW THAT."

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